That’s not to say Kuechly isn’t worthy of the honor. He was on the other side of the equation a year ago when he got edged out by an equally deserving Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers.

BC linebacker Luke Kuechly

Kuechly broke his own league record and fell just two short of the national mark with 191 tackles. That’s an average of 15.3 per game, compiled during a streak of 33 straight games with double-digit stops. His career total of 532 tackles is already an ACC record and is the second-most by an FBS player since the NCAA began recognizing tackles as an official stat in 2000. And he still has a year of eligibility left, if he chooses to use it.

But here’s my argument.

As impressive as Kuechly’s numbers are – and they’re impressive enough that in any other year, this discussion would not be necessary – they can be somewhat deceiving. Not only are tackles a subjective stat that like assists in hockey can be padded by a friendly home stat crew, they are also affected by variables such as defensive schemes and the ability (or lack thereof) of other players on the field.

Interceptions, on the other hand, leave no room for interpretation. You either get them or you don’t.

And no one in ACC history has ever intercepted more passes in a season than Amerson did this year. His 11 picks not only led the nation, but they also broke the State school record by three and tied the league mark set by UNC’s Dre Bly in 1996.

Bly, by the way, was also snubbed for Defensive Player of the Year honors that season.

I understand that the criteria for awards such as this are highly subjective, and each voter is entitled to his or her opinion. And as I’ve mentioned several times, you can’t fault Kuechly’s selection.

But I’ll leave you with one more pertinent fact to consider before I rest my case for Amerson. It’s the one that proved to be the tipping point in my own decision-making process.

It’s that with or without Kuechly in the lineup, BC would still have finished near the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings and out of the bowl picture.

The Wolfpack, on the other hand, went 7-5 and with a postseason game yet to play. Without Amerson and his 11 interceptions, to go along with 54 tackles and five other pass break-ups, his team would likely be down in a similar spot as the Eagles.

I agree as well, and this is how I look at it… tackles are so misleading because a guy can make 8 tackles on a single drive that may end in a TD.

An INT stops the drive, and gives your team the ball, it often reverses momentum in a huge way as well.

Plus, BC was usually getting beat and teams were running on them more so natually LBs will have a lot more tackles than if a team is throwing all over the field.

I’m not trying to take anything away from Kuechly, State was recruiting him hard and I wish we had gotten him. It’s just a guy can have 20 tackles in a game and his team still gets the crap beat out of them, how does that make him a “great” defender?